Kellys status uncertain

Kansas State has launched an investigation to determine if K-State senior Curtis Kelly violated institutional rules for student-athletes, GoPowercat.com has learned from multiple sources.

K-State sports information director Tom Gilbert indicated on Tuesday afternoon that Kelly was "still a part of the basketball team," but declined to comment on what the immediate future would hold for the scrutinized senior.

According to sources, the unspecified violation could terminate the remainder of Kelly's college basketball career should he ultimately be found to be in violation of the rule in question. The New York City native, who, according to multiple accounts, was absent from a Tuesday workout, now sees his basketball future hinge on the results of a pending appeal for which there is no public timetable.

As of now, it remains unclear if the Preseason All-Big 12 selection will be able to remain with the team during his appeal process.

If found to be in violation of the department policy and removed from scholarship, Kelly would follow in the footsteps of both sophomore Wally Judge and junior Freddy Asprilla, each of whom split with head coach Frank Martin's program earlier this season, leaving what was once expected to be one the country's top frontcourts depleted.

Kelly, a preseason All-Big 12 selection, missed six games earlier in the season for accepting impermissible benefits from a Manhattan department store and is currently averaging 9.9 points and 4.4 rebounds over the course of 15 games. The forward also sat out a handful of contests at the start of the year due to what Martin tabbed as an unsatisfactory practice effort.

As a junior a year ago, the University of Connecticut transfer started all 37 games, averaging 11.5 points per contest while setting a school record for blocks in a season.

Efforts to reach Martin as well as members of Kelly's family for comment on Tuesday were unsuccessful.